Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation

By: Mark W. Muesse, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Mark W. Muesse

Meditation - the technique of mental focusing for enhanced awareness and self-mastery - offers deep and lasting benefits for mental functioning and emotional health, as well as for physical health and well-being.

This practice is closely related to "mindfulness," which Professor Muesse defines as "a deliberate way of paying attention to what is occurring within oneself as it is happening. It is the process of attentively observing your experience as it unfolds, without judgment or evaluation."

"Meditation," he adds, "refers to certain exercises that can be used to enlarge and refine mindfulness." Meditation cultivates mindfulness by training you to develop deep attention to the present moment, allowing the mind to become settled and centered. These 24 detailed lectures teach you the principles and techniques of sitting meditation, the related practice of walking meditation, and the highly beneficial use of meditative awareness in many important activities, including eating and driving. You will also learn how to use the skills of meditation in working with thoughts and emotional states, in deepening sensory awareness of the body, and in becoming deeply attentive to the operation of your mind.

You'll come away with a solid basis for your own meditation practice and for bringing meditation's remarkable and empowering benefits to every aspect of your life.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2011 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2011 The Great Courses

Stop Going on Autopilot, Listen to This

I listen to a lot of audiobooks, usually in the background. This book gives you techniques to keep you mentally present whatever you're doing. It demystifies meditation and sophisticated techniques, giving it to you in easy-to-use guidelines.

A Welcome, Thorough Course

Meditation is easy to learn and easy to begin... in theory. It's quite possibly the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life, which is why I was eager to have a longer course like this one. I've done this sort of thing off and on for years, and I've seen the benefits of it for myself. But my physical restlessness and my "monkey mind" have always been my worst enemies. This course breaks everything down slowly and thoroughly. Everything you need is here, and there is plenty of advice concerning props or environments to go along with it for those who wish for that that.

The hard part is still actually meditating. It's just not as daunting as it used to be.

Informative and Inspiring

This course was excellent. I've listened to it twice, and have started my own mindfulness practice. The course is well-planned and a thorough introduction to meditation. Professor Muesse is a wonderful speaker, and infuses the course with personal anecdotes to illustrate concepts. I highly recommend this course, along with another Great Course, The Science of Mindfulness with Professor Ronald Siegel. Both are inspiring to listen to, and both are excellent introductions to meditation.

Not what it's supposed to be

This wasn't an introduction to meditation in my opinion. It was a hodge podge of misc topics that made no sense. I only liked a couple chapters so it was a waste of time.

Anyone got to read this

And more important , practice the elements described , meditation as a way of life , any life. I’ve came ready with all the knowledge and habit to read this , and it tied the pieces of my meditation and general knowledge to a very beautiful bundle :-)))

A great way to learn to meditate.

What made the experience of listening to Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the lecture because it was easy to listen to and easy to understand.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Professor Muesse spoke very clearly and in simple english

Have you listened to any of Professor Mark W. Muesse’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I have not.This is my first course Ihave listened to

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not sure

Any additional comments?

I loved this course because for the first time I truly understand how to meditate and live mindfully.

whish I had heard this along time ago.

Struggled a little at the end . still good stuff . I also purchased the Science behind mindfulness .

this was a great book

I loved this book. the author added just the right amount of personal stories to each lecture.

very helpful

This book was very helpful and comprehensive...practicing mindfulness has given me so much freedom and this book helped me take my practice further.

Wow

This book is extremely good. Honesty I wasn’t really expecting much but it surprised me!